EPA-Certified Wood Stoves May Not Meet Your Health and Safety Standards

Many communities have offered financial incentives to replace wood stoves with EPA-certified models which produce less pollution. Undark discovered that some of the newer stoves may not meet EPA standards.

In a time of rising energy costs, a lot of cities are looking to reduce the use of wood, especially in areas in which air quality is poor. Here are ten tips to improve the quality of indoor air and get more heat from every log.

Efficiency

Wood stove burning is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Modern EPA certified wood stoves burn logs extremely quickly and produce less creosote than older models. This lets you use more energy in your fire, and reduce heating costs by up to 30 percent. When you only use well-seasoned wood, the efficiency of wood stoves increases over the life of the stove.

Older wood stoves typically have efficiency of less than 50 percent. This means that smoke and carbon dioxide are released into the air, leading to an evaporation of about half the energy potential in the fire. Modern stoves can boast an efficiency of 85 percent or more. This is comparable to oil and gas furnaces.

The higher efficiency of wood stoves are made by controlling the fuel, air and combustion process. Wood stoves with controlled airflow can slow down the speed at which the fire moves through wood, allowing gases to stay hot and completely burn.

Modern wood stoves can also reuse the byproducts of incomplete combustion to create a new fire that burns more efficiently. This process is referred to as reburn, and can boost wood stove burning efficiency by up to 10 percent.

Another advantage of using wood as a source for heat is that it is carbon neutral. As trees expand, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen when they are burned. Wood is a renewable resource for the environment, particularly when it is sourced from local woodlands managed in a way that encourages healthy tree growth.

Cleanliness

Cleaning and maintaining wood stoves is important for keeping homes warm. In the United States, 8.8 million households make use of wood stoves. A dirty stove and flue pipe could be a fire hazard and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Clean chimneys, stoves and flue pipes are also more efficient.

The most commonly-asked task with cleaning your wood stove is emptying the ashes. Wear protective gloves and wait until the stove has cool down. Choose a container made of steel that can accommodate all of the ashes, and then dump it outside away from anything that could ignite. You can also put the ashes to your compost to make a healthy addition to you garden.

Once the ashes have gone out of the stove, it's a good time to sweep the floor and vacuum up any residual dust. It is recommended to leave at least 3 feet of space between your wood stove and any combustible items like pillows, curtains or toys. This prevents a fire from getting out of control and burning these things.

As for the inside of your stove glass doors that are clean allow you to enjoy a view of the dancing flames and can help you tell when it is time to start an all-new fire. Make sure you have glass cleaner in your kitchen to clean any smudged or tarred areas that might be present. If the glass is very dirty you can make use of a newspaper that has been dipped in ash and water to wipe it down. Be careful not to scratch the glass, because scratches can weaken the glass and shatter when it is heated.

Creosote buildup on the inside of your flue is a major cause of chimney fires. A few millimeters of creosote may cause a fire to a chimney. Clean your flue often particularly if you burn pine or other soft woods that produce more creosote compared to other types of wood.

Burn only dry, seasoned wood that has been cut in half or smaller. Never burn fake trash, logs or other items in your wood stove.

Safety

Wood stoves emit harmful gases like carbon monoxide and particulates. These toxins can make their way into the home, and can have negative effects on the health of young people, older adults, and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as COPD or asthma. Exposure to wood smoke over time can also cause heart disease and lead to lung damage.

It is crucial to follow the correct wood stove burn practices to avoid these dangers. This includes ensuring that the stove is functioning correctly and has the right power to heat the size and shape of the room. Only dry, well-seasoned, hard woods should be burned in the stove. The firewood's moisture content should be less than 20 percent. If the moisture content is higher it will burn faster and produce a smoky fire, with more creosote accumulation on the chimney vent pipe walls.

Another crucial safety concern is to ensure that the stove has a sufficient draw by monitoring the amount of air that flows through the firebox and the chimney. Modern stoves come with various ways to alter the flow of air and the owner's guide has documented the procedures. The highest heating efficiencies can be achieved when the air controls are operated correctly.

Finally, the flue and chimney pipes must be kept free of combustible materials, including drapes, paper, or rugs. A lack of clearance between combustibles and wood-burning appliances is a major reason for house fires caused by wood stoves.

It is also important to keep children away from wood stoves while the flame is in progress or 913875.xyz (913875.Xyz) when ashes are being removed. Children are naturally curious, and they might touch hot surfaces on a wood stove or place their hands in the flame. It is recommended to install a child-proof barrier around the fireplace or employ a fireplace screen. It is also essential to check the fireplace and wood stove regularly for signs of wear and tear.

It is also crucial to have your chimney and stove professionally checked at least once a year to check for creosote buildup, bird nests and other problems which can affect the safety of your stove. This will help avoid fires and health hazards as well as reducing the necessity for carbon monoxide remediation.

Maintenance

Wood stoves can be an effective way to lower your heating costs, but they require some extra maintenance. If you don't perform the necessary maintenance the wood stove could cause a fire that is dangerous to escape from the chimney or flue and 913875 could even trigger fire in your home. It is important to clean the surfaces of the stove and flue. Keep a fire extinguisher at the counter and test it frequently. Smoke detectors are a great idea throughout the house, but particularly in the room in which the stove is.

As a general rule cleaning your chimney and stove at least once a year. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted according to how often the stove is used. It may be necessary to clean it more frequently in winter. It is also important to use only seasoned and dry wood to burn in the stove. Avoid using lots of oil or kerosene to start the fire. These fuels can release toxic gasses and pose a danger to your health.

During your regular cleaning and maintenance, be sure to inspect the gaskets of your doors. They are typically made from a braided material that can be damaged over time. If you find that the gasket is loose and needs to be repaired, buy an alternative fiberglass seal and some gasket adhesive. The hinges of these doors need to be inspected as well.

Chimneys and flues need to be inspected to ensure they are free of creosote accumulation and obstructions. During the inspection, look for cracks in the chimney liner, as well as any other signs of damage. Stovepipes should be inspected as well, and any holes or dents should be repaired.

If you have a glass door for your wood stove, it is important to keep this clean. You can easily accomplish this by mixing water and ammonia. The solution should be applied to the glass with either a sponge or rag. You can leave the solution for a couple of minutes before wiping it over again.